They say Maat Pita Gurudev ki Jai! (glory to Mother, Father and Teacher) Note the pattern and the order of the jaikaar; it’s the mother first, but the pattern reads them both together, the mother and the father and then comes the redeemer, the teacher.

Maat Pita Gurudev ki Jai! is a greeting in some tribal areas near Udaipur, these people still live close to the basics; anyway that is not what I am concentrating on. I am pondering over the important roles played by a mother, a father and a teacher in the life of every human being.

Every one of us, at some point in time was possessed by one or all of these artisans. I call them artisans because it is them in whose hands we took our current shape; had they chosen we could/would have been a different mould.

Calling off the philosophy, when we look at what are we doing with our offspring? Do we befit the jaikaar, the role the status cast on us, a truth, even if we refuse?

What do we provide our kids with? A good school, and??? I have to think, if there is any lesson I have given to my kid other than kachra sadak par mat feko, pani kam kharch karo en al. Eh! it’s OK, we send them to one of the best schools in town.

I too, studied at a reputed school in town, those days. They manufactured a well-finished white-color, corporate employee. Come on! those were olden times, these days they talk about environment and ecology in schools too, they organize trips man, what are you talking about.

Yeah! the reason of life of has become a picnic, a festival, a month, a day and the rest is normal life.

The moment I heard Maat Pita Gurudev ki Jai! I have started to think about how to befit the role. When contemplated deeper, I realized that included in the role of parent is a role of a guide who must direct his ward to the right teacher.

I conducted SWOT analysis of my son’s school and discovered a deeper gap, I didn’t know his school’s particular characteristic was a strength or a weakness and an opportunity or a threat. His school produced best CEOs and they teach kids with an improved methodology of teaching foreign knowledge.

On which path are we guiding our wards? What is he learning from us, where are we sending him to learn and eventually what is he becoming?

I believe before we answer or even try to answer, we should first look upon ourselves. We have yet to grow up and this reminds me of William Wordsworth when he said, “Child is the father of man”.

Truly, it’s my son who made me realize I have yet to grow up and watch for where am I heading to, because, I am leading my son with me. By the honor of Maat Pita Gurudev ki Jai! it’s a is duty cast upon us to watch out ourselves, not for ourselves but for the man, the community taking shape in our hands.